about the Lake Washington half
The Lake Washington Half marathon is a beautiful loop course that starts and finishes and Juanita Beach Park in Kirkland. You’ll run along the shores of Lake Washington and through the charming neighborhoods of Kirkland. Produced by Orca Running, the Lake Washington Half is a great end-of-season half to cap off your year of running. Come run with us!
registration prices
Half Marathon
Feb – March: $79
April – May: $84
June – July: $89
Aug – Sept: $94
October: $99
Race day: $109
Important
Please note that all registrations are non-refundable. Be sure to review our race policies.
Prices do not include processing fees. Online pre-registration closes the day before the race at 8:00pm.
If you’re planning on doing multiple Orca Running races in a year, consider using our Bundle and Save!
Youth Discounts
Participants under 22 automatically receive a discount of 15% on registration fees.
race info
The course
Start/Finish Line Location: Juanita Beach Park in Kirkland, WA.
The Lake Washington Half course is USATF certified.
There will be aid stations on the course serving water, GU gels, and Tailwind electrolytes. Runners will hit the aid stations at approximately 1, 4, 6.2, 8, 10.3 and 12 miles.
All of Orca Running’s races are now cupless. Please bring a handheld bottle, hydration pack, or we can provide you with a resuable cup that folds into your wasteband.
Pacers are available for the following finish times: 1:40, 1:50, 2:00, and 2:15.
PARKING
Parking is available at Juanita Beach Park and across the street in the gravel parking lot. You can also find free street parking nearby in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Awards
Overall awards will be given to the top 3 male, female, and non-binary runners based off of gun time not chip time. So, you should start in the front of the pack. We also give out age group awards in 5 year increments, so be sure to check your results at the Orca Running tent. We DO NOT MAIL OUT AWARDS after the race, they must be picked up at the race.
Lodging
For those of you making a weekend out of this event, we recommend the Heathman Hotel in downtown Kirkland.
220 Kirkland Avenue, Kirkland, Washington 98033
Policies
We have a clear set of policies that we uniformly follow for all races. Entries are not refundable, but you can defer your entry, transfer it to another race, or transfer it to another participant. You can review our full set of policies here.
gear check
Free gear check is available at the Lake Washington Half. In an effort to reduce waste, we will not be providing drop bags, so PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN BAG. We will have identification tags for you to use.
Charity Partner
We have a wonderful charity partner for the Lake Washington Half, Blaine High School Booster Club! The dollars donated go to support various programs for students. Say hello to the amazing and friendly volunteers that support the race every year!
Packet Pickup
To pick up your race packet, you have three options:
- Opt to have your race bib mailed to you. This costs $3.25 and can be selected during the registration process.
- Pick up your bib on race morning. Please consult the schedule below for times and anticipate long lines.
- Pick up your bib pre-race at REI Bellevue: Thursday, October 17th from 2:00pm-6:00pm
race day schedule
6:30am: Race Day packet pick-up opens
7:50am: NE Juanita Drive (eastbound) closes
7:55am: Pre-race announcements, group hug!
8:00am: Race starts, in 2 waves 2 minutes apart
11:30am: Course closed, Juanita Drive re-opens
FAQs
Q: How can I confirm that I am signed up?
The best thing to check first is to look in your email inbox for a confirmation email from RunSignUp for the race in question. You can also look up your registration in your RunSignUp account by logging into your account then go to your “Profile” page where you can view your current registrations under Upcoming Events. Click HERE for more information on accessing a registration in RunSignUp.
Q: How can I confirm what shirt size I ordered?
A: Your t-shirt size that you selected appears on your confirmation email. If you did not receive your confirmation email, try checking your spam folder.
Q: I cannot participate! What are my options?
A: Please refer to the Race Policies HERE for your options.
Q: I cannot participate, but I would still like to pick up my swag. Can I pick it up?
A: Yes. You can send a friend or family member to packet pickup to get your race packet & swag.
Q: Are walkers welcome?
A: Absolutely yes, but the Lake Washington Half has a course cut off of 3.5 hours.
Q: Are dogs welcome?
A: No, dogs are not allowed to participate in the Lake Washington Half. They are welcome at the start and finish line areas, however.
Q: Are strollers welcome?
A: Strollers are not allowed at the Lake Washington Half.
Q: What time does the course close?
A: The course closes at 11:30am.
Q: Will there be porta-potties at the start/finish? What about out on the course?
A: There will be porta-potties available at the start line and finish line area. There will also be porta-potties out on the course at several areas.
Q: When does online registration close?
A: Online registration will close at 8:00pm the day before the race.
Q: What/who does this race benefit?
A: The Lake Washington Half benefits the Blaine High School Booster Club. Many of the volunteers on the course are students earning money for their annual international trip.
Q: Can someone else pick up my packet?
A: Yes, a friend or family member may pick up your packet for you. Please see above for Packet Pickup locations and times.
Q: Can I sign up in person at packet pickup or on race day?
A: Packet pickup or Race day registration is only available if the race does not sell out.
Q: Is there gear check?
A: Yes! Free gear check is available at the Lake Washington Half. In an effort to reduce waste, we will not be providing drop bags, so PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN BAG. We will have identification tags for you to use.